Dusty Hill

Dusty Hill
File:Dusty Hill of ZZ Top performing in San Antonio, Texas 2015.jpg Hill performing live in San Antonio, Texas, 2015
Background information
Birth name	Joseph Michael Hill
Also known as	Duster The Dust The Dustbunny
Born	(1949-05-19)May 19, 1949 Dallas, Texas
Died	Houston, Texas, U.S.
Genres	Hard rock blues rock rock
Occupation(s)	Bassist singer songwriter
Instruments	Bass guitar keyboards vocals
Years active	1966–2021
Labels	Rhino WEA RCA Warner Bros. London
Associated acts	ZZ Top Willy & the Wolves Freddie King The Warlocks The Cellar Dwellers American Blues

Joseph Michael "Dusty" Hill (May 19, 1949 – July 28, 2021) was an American musician, singer, and songwriter, best known as the bassist and secondary lead vocalist of the American rock group ZZ Top; he also played keyboards with the band. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a member of ZZ Top, in 2004.

Early life

Hill was born in Dallas, Texas. He and his brother Rocky Hill (also a musician) were raised in the Lakewood neighborhood of East Dallas. He attended Woodrow Wilson High School (Dallas) where he played the cello.

Career

Hill, his brother, and future fellow ZZ Top member Frank Beard played in local Dallas bands the Warlocks, the Cellar Dwellers, and American Blues. From 1966 to 1968, American Blues played the Dallas-Fort Worth-Houston circuit. In 1969, Hill was a member of a fake version of the British band The Zombies with Beard.

In 1968, the band decided to leave the Dallas–Fort Worth area and relocate to Houston. At this time, however, Rocky Hill wanted to focus on "straight blues", while Dusty wanted the band to rock more. Rocky left the band and Dusty and Beard moved to Houston, joining guitarist/vocalist Billy Gibbons of Houston psychedelic-rockers Moving Sidewalks in the recently formed ZZ Top just after they released their first single in 1969. Hill played bass and keyboards in the band and was secondary lead vocalist.

Hill's on-screen appearances include Back to the Future Part III, Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme, WWE Raw and Deadwood, and as himself in the 11th-season episode of King of the Hill, "Hank Gets Dusted", in which Hank Hill is said to be Dusty's cousin. He also made an appearance on The Drew Carey Show as himself auditioning for a spot in Drew's band, but is rejected because of his attachment to his trademark beard which he refers to as a 'Texas Goatee'.

In 2000 he was diagnosed with Hepatitis C and as a result, ZZ Top canceled their European tour. Hill resumed work in 2002.

Hill was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a member of ZZ Top, in 2004.

Death

On July 28, 2021, Hill died in his sleep at his home in Houston, Texas, aged 72. His death was announced by his ZZ Top bandmates Billy Gibbons and Frank Beard.

Musical equipment

Main article: ZZ Top equipment

Discography

Further information: ZZ Top discography

American Blues albums

Main article: American Blues

• American Blues
• American Blues 'Is Here' (1968)
• Do Their Thing (1969)